One of the greatest journeys I ever embarked on was taking the time to learn who I was. It was not easy. The closer I came to learning who I was, the more those closest to me would stop my progress.
For me, working out for an hour or more daily, eating a high-protein, low-carb, low-sugar diet ensured I always operated at my optimum level. I also love lots of sleep. So, often I would crawl into bed around 8 p.m., and enjoy a great book until I fell asleep. However, the more I worked to give myself what I needed, the more I would be made to feel guilty.
The first and perhaps most important step was setting boundaries. My boundaries were designed to help me be at my best, function at my peak, and prevent others from influencing my decisions.
Begin your journey with these two questions: what do I need daily to feel my best? What routines and habits can I put into place to ensure that every day is my best day? Once you know these answers, do your best to build your days around them. Focus on what you need to operate at your fullest potential.
Create time alone to reflect and the courage to be honest with yourself. Honesty with oneself can be quite difficult because it means that person must remove labels others have placed upon them. One must dare to listen to what their heart truly wants. In the quiet solitude of reflection, the whispers of the heart can be heard. And that is when and where those dreams come to life.
Value yourself and be self-assured enough to make decisions you know are best. One of the most appealing character traits is unequivocal confidence. This is the greatest journeys of which you will ever embark, and one in which you must never cheat.
In order to be true to myself, I had to live the life that was right for me. After my summer of solitude, I began finding myself and hearing what my heart needed. And as I embraced the person I was meant to be, my peace and confidence increased tenfold. I became more certain of my capabilities, and my leadership skills grew.
Part of being a great leader is understanding who you are and what is right for you. When you know who you truly are, what you want, and embrace your culture and past, you take the first steps towards becoming a successful leader.
Take this week to ask yourself the tough questions. Find a quiet moment to listen to your heart, and dare to become the best version of yourself and the leader you were meant to be.
Sara Orellana is an independent entrepreneur who specializes in strategic planning, leadership, and grant writing. She can be reached at sara@3raptorconsulting.com.